The eLearning Center for the eLearning Centre

Overview

Oil and Gas platforms contribute to the enhancement of marine fisheries habitat. Because the natural bottom of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is a flat plain, comprised of mud, clay and sand with very little natural rock bottom and reef habitat, fish and other marine life typically would become widely dispersed, far from ideal conditions for commercial fishing and recreational fishing and diving. Offshore platforms create artificial reefs that provide acres of living and feeding habitat for thousands of underwater species and serve as destinations for thousands of divers and fishermen.

When platforms become obsolete, they are required by lease agreements to be removed; however, removal of the platforms from the Gulf of Mexico results in the loss of valuable reef and fishery habitat. Recognizing the benefits oil and gas platforms contribute to the enhancement of marine fisheries habitat, the Rigs-to-Reefs program was developed to take the obsolete platforms and allowing them to be permitted as permanent artificial reefs in lieu of removing and scraping the platforms.

In this course, the student will review OCS Report MMS 2000-073, "Rigs-to-Reefs Policy, Progress, and Perspective" published by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (October 2000). This course is most relevant to engineers involved with, or wishing to attain knowledge on, the Rigs-to-Reefs policies in the Gulf of Mexico.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of ten (10) questions at the end of the course to obtain PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · Background on the development of the Rigs-to-Reefs program
  · Government bodies and laws associated with the Rigs-to-Reefs program
  · Benefits of the Rigs-to-Reefs program to oil & gas companies, fisheries, recreational fishermen, and the environment
  · Methods of platform removal used in the Rigs-to-Reefs program

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).